MovieChat Forums > Dark Water (2005) Discussion > A water tower on stilts on the roof of a...

A water tower on stilts on the roof of a building?

posted 11 years ago by pullgees
9 replies | jump to latest

Being as the roof is the highest point it would be unnecessary to have the tower on stilts not to mention that it looked like something out of the old West on a railroad.

[–] psdhart 11 years ago

well there a re a few like that in NYC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NewYorkCityWaterTower.JPG

Don't know why they are on stilts though

[–] SueBee55 11 years ago

I love those water towers. We don't have them in the UK. Reminds me of the opening credits of 'Fatal Attraction' when the camera pans across the NY skyline to go into the window of Michael Douglas's apartment.

[–] taticat 9 years ago

One reason is to make repairs easier.

[–] omgjayde 11 years ago

In NYC, as well as Chicago, and probably other large cities, all buildings higher than 6 stories have to be equipped with a rooftop water tower. This is necessary to prevent the need for excessively high pressures at lower elevations, which could burst pipes. The higher the water needs to travel upwards, the more PSI is needed to propel it, due to gravity. Trying to channel water upwards to 20, 60, or 100 stories would demand so much pressure in the pipes that they would literally explode.

The top portion of the water in these towers is used as drinking and common use water for the building and the lower half of the tank is reserved for fires.

[–] polsixe 11 years ago

Partly right @omgjayde, don't forget the water has to get into the water tank somehow, it is pumped up there. In taller buildings there are a series of booster pumps and valves to ensure each floor has usable water pressure. The tank is a buffer to smoothen out pressure fluctuations and provide a reserve in case the pumps fail.

[–] hqahtani 11 years ago

In addition to what everyone else has mentioned, it also acts as a backup water supply during temporary shut offs.

[–] DeputyDippity 9 years ago

It reminds me of the water tanks atop the Cecil Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. No stilts, but on a raised platform on the roof.

"That's like putting your whole mouth right in The Dip!" - Seinfeld

[–] toy2boy 9 years ago

Much of what others have said plus it helps with the pressure to the top 2-3 floors.

- Just adding my .02 :)

[–] Navihawk 8 years ago

Don't some of them collect rainwater also to help with the supply? It would make sense, wouldn't it...? I've never lived in an area that uses water tanks, so I was just wondering.